Passwords: Oh My head!

Back in the day I used to be a so called “Hacker” i so take great offense to the word. Hacker’s create and do the so called impossible basically created all your devices at hand!, Where a “Cracker” destroys and steals etc etc.. The “Cracker” is the one that steals grannys social security checks and your identity Online! Not the “Hacker”. Got it? Good. Ok i’m over that now let’s continue.

Most people don’t put a lot of thought into their password. It’s usually easiest just to toss up a short, easy-to-remember one, or even just to use the same password for every account. After all, the average person probably won’t be able to guess your password.

However, Crackers often use password-cracking software that can keep testing different passwords until they find the correct one, and they can easily crack weak passwords. By creating strong passwords, you can greatly reduce the chance that your personal or financial information will be stolen. Notice it’s called password-CRACKER point made huh lol.

Stupid mistakes

Many people make passwords based on their spouse’s names, a hobby, or a simple pattern because these types of passwords are easy to remember. Unfortunately, they are also easy for crackers to guess. To create a strong password, you will need to avoid these types of common mistakes.

No birthdays.pet,wife,hubby,bf.gf,kids etc name. I can spend ten minutes on most FB pages and guess your password quickly. Because you POSTED IT! “Oh dear” Did i scare you? GOOD! Anything that is part of your life in this way should not be part of any password anywhere!. Ok thats clear let’s move on again..

OK making strong passwords. Heres a remeber list.

Never use personal information such as your name, birthday, or spouse’s name. Personal information is often publicly available, which makes it easier for someone to guess your password.

Use a longer password. Your password should be at least six characters long, and for extra security it should ideally be at least 12 characters if the site allows it.

If you need to write down your passwords, keep them in a secure place. It’s even better if you encrypt your passwords, or write down hints for them that others won’t be able to understand.

Don’t use the same password for each account. If someone discovers your password for one account, all of your other accounts will be vulnerable.

Try to include numbers, symbols, and both uppercase and lowercase letters if the site allows it.

Avoid using words that can be found in the dictionary. For example, swimming1 would be a weak password.

You can test you current password here for a rough idea.

Or click the link and use the more advanced version below that includes a password generator too!

Random passwords are the strongest. Use Our Password Generator instead of trying to think of your own.

Random passwords are more difficult to remember, so create a mnemonic device. For example, J=jNp2# can be remembered as Jelly = jam NOT preserves 2 #. This may still seem random, but with a bit of practice it becomes relatively easy to memorize. You can also choose a sentence you know you’ll remember and then use the first letter of each word in the sentence, plus a few symbols or numbers, as your password.

Password managers

Instead of writing your passwords on paper where others can easily see them, you can use a password manager to encrypt and store them online. Some password managers can also generate random passwords, making your information even more secure. Examples of password managers include LastPass, KeePass (My Choice), Firefox’s password manager, and Google Chrome’s password manager.

For example, when using LastPass, you will first need to install the LastPass browser plugin. Whenever you type a password on a website, the browser plugin will ask you whether you want to save it. The next time you go to the website, LastPass can automatically enter the password for you. If someone else wants to use your computer, you can simply log out of LastPass to prevent the other person from accessing your information.